Obtaining a Greek passport

Obtaining a Greek passport is possible on the basis of origin or naturalization. Being a foreigner, you can apply for citizenship of this EU country after 7 years of continuous residence on its territory, provided that you know the state language and integration into society. Ethnic Greeks have the opportunity to take advantage of the repatriation procedure, which lasts from one year. The process and conditions for acquiring Greek citizenship are regulated by two main acts - the Law on Citizenship and the Code on Immigration and Social Integration.

The Greek passport is a coveted document for many immigrants because of the wide range of opportunities that its holder receives. Citizens of the republic can choose any EU member state for their life and professional activity, make investments and travel without a visa. Further details about the advantages of the Greek passport, the ways and costs and how to obtain it, as well as possible options for simplified immigration.

Advantages of Greek citizenship

Greek citizens are automatically holders of an EU passport, which gives them numerous privileges compared to foreigners from outside the association. Among the main advantages of the document are:

1. visa-free entry to more than 160 countries, including Canada, USA, Australia, Maldives, Vietnam;
2. the right to pass on citizenship to descendants, as well as to use the family reunification program to immigrate close relatives to Greece and allow them to obtain a Greek passport in the future;
3. permission to live, do business and work in any of the 27 EU member states, including holding public office;
4. access to social benefits, pensions, unemployment benefits, other social support programs;
5. diplomatic assistance when staying abroad;
6. access to high quality modern medicine in the EU countries with a free EHIC (European Health Insurance Card);
7. the right to vote and stand for election;
8. the right to receive education in prestigious European universities and to apply for scholarships and benefits on a priority basis compared to applicants from outside the EU.

The process of obtaining a Greek passport can be lengthy and costly from a financial point of view - this is the main disadvantage of standard naturalization. If you want to learn about the possibilities of acquiring EU citizenship in a short period of time, it is worth seeking free advice from migration specialists.

Main ways of obtaining a Greek passport

When planning to immigrate and become a Greek citizen, you can use a variety of ways, with naturalization being the standard option. Let's take a closer look at which ways of acquiring a Greek passport are most available.

Naturalization

To acquire a Greek passport through standard naturalization, you will need at least 7 years of residence in the territory of the Republic. Also, obligatory conditions are mastery of the state language, familiarity with the constitutional system, culture and history of the country. Among the basic grounds for immigration and obtaining a residence permit, which allows you to later request Greek citizenship, are the following:

1. Work

The prerequisite for obtaining a residence permit is the existence of an employment contract concluded with a Greek employer for a period of one year or more and a public insurance policy. A certificate of self-employment registration, proof of qualifications and salary may also be required. The initial authorization is usually issued for a period of 2 years. If the employment contract is still in force, it is possible to continue the residence permit for another 3 years, after which a request for permanent residence is made. Citizenship is issued by naturalization after 7 years of residence in the country.

1. Highly qualified professional activity

In order to qualify for the EU Blue Card, the applicant must have an employment contract concluded for at least one year and guaranteeing a salary from 2002 EUR per month in 2025. In some cases, it is necessary to prove professional qualification or work experience of at least 5 years in the relevant field. The residence permit is issued for 2 years with the right to extend it for a three-year period. Further, the holder of the EU Blue Card can apply for a residence permit and citizenship after another 2 years of residence in the territory of the Republic.

1. Family reunification

Foreigners legally residing in Greece for more than 2 years can apply for a residence permit for family members (spouses/partners, children under 21 years of age). The permit is issued for a period of up to 2 years. The main conditions for granting the document are the availability of suitable housing, as well as a stable income of at least 830 EUR per month, increased by 20% for the spouse and 15% for each child.

In some cases, the applicant will have to be interviewed if the competent authority needs to check the family ties. The residence permit can be extended for 3 years, after which it is possible to apply for a residence permit and after 2 years of residence in the country - for citizenship.

1. Study

In order to obtain a student residence permit, one must be enrolled in a Greek university or enrolled in a Greek language and culture center. The applicant must also have sufficient funds to cover his/her own expenses (minimum 400 EUR per month) and pay the fees set by the educational institution. The residence permit is issued for a period of up to one year with the possibility of extension for a similar period until the completion of the study program. It should be taken into account that the student residence permit does not allow you to apply for permanent residence and Greek citizenship.

1. Marriage

Marriage to a Greek citizen allows you to obtain a five-year residence permit, which can be renewed for a similar period. In order to apply for a residence permit, a marriage certificate or a cohabitation contract must be presented. If the marriage continues, after 5 years of residence in the country it is possible to apply for citizenship. If there is a common child, it is possible to apply for a Greek passport after 3 years.

Investments

If you invest 250,000 EUR or more in the Greek economy, you have the opportunity to obtain a residence permit. To participate in the investment program, you can purchase real estate or rent premises related to tourism (hotel, hostel, etc.) on condition of making a one-time payment. A timeshare contract (a type of property for a fixed time during the year) must be concluded for a minimum of 10 years. To qualify for a residence permit, it is necessary to show proof of legal income, insurance policy and a certificate of no criminal record.

The residence permit is issued for 5 years with the possibility of renewal for a similar period. Spouse/partner, minor children, parents of the investor can be included in the application. Extension of the document is allowed if you continue to be the owner of the property or the lease agreements remain in force. A foreign investor can obtain citizenship by standard naturalization after 7 years of residence in the country.

Repatriation

Greece offers several ways to restore citizenship lost by the applicant or his/her ancestors. The main condition for repatriation is the confirmation of ethnicity to the country. The restoration of the Greek passport is available to applicants regardless of their place of residence, so the request is submitted at the Consulate of the Republic abroad or through an application to the Secretary General of the Region in Greece. The following categories of applicants are eligible for repatriation:

1. women who have renounced their Greek citizenship due to marriage to a foreigner;
2. minor children of Greek women who have lost their nationality;
3. foreigners of Greek origin from the countries of the former Soviet Union whose status cannot be established in accordance with the Ankara and Lausanne Treaties.

In order to acquire citizenship, proof of Greek origin and any other information that helps to confirm the alien's status must be presented. The main advantages of repatriation include not having to reside in the territory of the Republic for the period prescribed by law.

Requirements and procedure for obtaining a Greek passport

The path leading to a Greek passport usually takes at least 7 years, and the list of requirements for the applicant depends on the chosen basis for immigration. The file for acquiring citizenship by naturalization must contain the following documents:

1. a valid passport of a foreign country or other identity document;
2. birth certificate;
3. current residence permit;
4. certificate of passing the naturalization test (PEGP, Certificate of Knowledge Adequacy for Naturalization);
5. marriage or divorce certificate (if available);
6. fee`s payment receipt;
7. tax returns for the period of residence in the country;
8. employment contract, declaration of ownership of real estate or other proof of income;
9. social security registration number (Α.Μ.Κ.Α., Αριθμού Μητρώου Κοινωνικής Ασφάλισης).

Also, the applicant for naturalization will have to prove integration into society by providing certificates of training, participation in volunteer activities, other evidence. All documents issued by foreign authorities should be translated and apostilled. The process of obtaining Greek citizenship by naturalization will consist of the following steps:

1. Issuance of a long-term D visa. To stay in the country for more than 90 days, a visa must be obtained by applying to the Greek Consulate abroad. The applicant undergoes an interview to establish the purpose of entry into the territory of the Republic, pays a fee (35 or 90 EUR, depending on the country of origin), provides the necessary documents. The dossier includes a completed application form, passport, certificate of no criminal record, health insurance policy. Depending on the grounds, additional documents may be required. The visa is issued for a period of up to one year.
2. Obtaining a residence permit. The initial residence permit is issued online at the government portal migration.gov.gr with the payment of a fee (from 150 EUR). In addition to a valid passport, insurance policy and visa, it is necessary to provide documents confirming the purpose of stay in Greece (employment contract, certificate of enrollment in a university and others). The validity of the document depends on the basis and is not less than a year. The residence permit can be extended online if the conditions of the original permit are maintained.
3. Request for permanent residency. After 5 years of residence in the Republic, you can obtain a permanent residence permit. You can request permanent residency online by paying a fee (from 150 EUR), providing proof of Greek language proficiency at least at B1 level, insurance policy, current residence permit, passport.
4. Obtaining citizenship. Citizenship can be requested by adult foreigners who have been legally living in the country for 7 years or more. Other conditions include the absence of a criminal record, knowledge of the Greek language, culture, history, public institutions of the Republic, as well as the presence of a regular income. The application is submitted to the Regional Citizenship Office (in person, through a lawyer or by mail) with the payment of a fee (550 EUR). After the publication in the Government Gazette of the decision to accept the request for naturalization, the applicant must take an oath to acquire citizenship within one year.
5. Passport and ID card issuance. The Greek ID card and passport can be issued at the Police Station by appointment. For the first ID-card issuance, in addition to the application form, photo, passport and the receipt of the fee (10 EUR), it is necessary to bring a witness who is ready to confirm your data and to take fingerprints. The document will be ready within 7 days.

Passport is issued on the basis of ID-card or birth certificate, as well as a certificate of no criminal record. In addition, you will need to present a receipt for payment of the fee (80 EUR), submit a photo and fingerprints. The document will be ready in 5 days.

The path to Greek citizenship through naturalization can be complicated and long, especially for foreigners who do not understand the intricacies of immigration procedures. It is possible to live on the territory of the Republic with a passport of any EU country, moreover, some of the states offer simplified ways of its registration. Participation of international law specialists helps to organize the process competently, avoid unnecessary delays and become a European citizen in 4-14 months. You can learn about the details of simplified immigration programs during the consultation.

How much time and money it takes to get a Greek passport

The path to a Greek passport takes about 7 years on average. At the same time, most of the time and financial expenses are spent on the naturalization process, which consists of obtaining residence permit, permanent residence permit and citizenship. An investor applying for citizenship has to pay fees amounting to 4674 EUR, as well as take into account the investment of 250 000 EUR or more. The price of a standard naturalization will be 1212 EUR, and the registration of a Greek passport by marriage, which takes from 3 years, will cost 1046 EUR. Repatriation will cost the cheapest - 190 EUR, and you do not have to be in the Republic during the procedure.

In addition to administrative fees, you should take into account the payment of rent, food and other related expenses. Expenses of one person in Greece will be about 800 EUR per month, for a family of 4 people you will need 2753 EUR on average. Monthly rent of a one-room apartment will cost at least 400 EUR. In addition to accommodation, the cost of Greek citizenship should include translation and legalization of documents (from 10 EUR per page), passing the naturalization exam (150 EUR).

What doesn't work: how you can't get a Greek passport

Anyone planning to immigrate to Greece and wishing to become a European citizen as soon as possible may encounter various misconceptions about the roundabout ways of acquiring citizenship. In practice, dubious schemes promising “guaranteed” results bypassing the law will deprive you of your money and lead to serious legal consequences, including criminal liability. Let's take a look at a few of the most common myths about acquiring a Greek passport:

1. Citizenship can be bought. The Republic does not offer programs for acquiring a Greek passport when investing in the country's economy. Even the “Golden Visa” allows you to count only on residence permits, and to obtain citizenship you must meet all the conditions of standard naturalization, including language skills. Any offers by intermediaries to buy a Greek passport for a certain amount of money are fraudulent - the participants of such a scheme will be held administratively and/or criminally liable. For example, the use of a forged document is punishable by imprisonment for 7 years.
2. Fictitious marriage to a Greek - a guaranteed path to an EU passport. Entering into a marriage union with a Greek citizen does not automatically grant a passport to the Republic. Marriage opens the way to naturalization, which can take several years, and you will need to prove your integration into society and the sincerity of your relationship. Each case is scrutinized, and if the union is found to be fictitious in order to obtain citizenship or residence permit, the application will be rejected. In addition, legal consequences await both participants in the fraudulent scheme and the foreigner will be deported and banned from entering the country.
3. The birth of a child in Greece allows you to obtain citizenship. Greece does not have a “right of soil” (jus soli), unlike, for example, Brazil, Canada and the USA. According to the law, citizenship can be automatically acquired by birth or adoption if at least one of the parents is a citizen of the Republic. Thus, the country realizes the “right of blood” (jus sanguinis). The misconception that it is possible to obtain Greek citizenship by “right of soil” most often arises from ignorance of the country's legislation and confusion with other states.
4. Greek roots guarantee quick immigration. Origin is indeed an important factor in moving to Greece, but in order to qualify for citizenship, it is necessary to document one's right to repatriation. Collecting a dossier requires time and specialized knowledge, as it is not uncommon to have to go to archives and search for lost civil status certificates. In addition to providing evidence of ethnicity, you will also need to undergo standard immigration procedures, including an interview with the consul, who decides on the possibility of repatriation.

It is important to remember that a Greek passport, like the national document of any country, is granted only through the procedures established by law. To achieve success, it is important to choose the optimal relocation program - this is greatly facilitated by cooperation with lawyers of international law. Reliable support of specialists will help you quickly and easily pass the way to obtaining EU citizenship in compliance with all legal requirements. Sign up for a free consultation and get a personalized solution for immigration to Europe.

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Dual Citizenship in Greece: whether it is allowed to hold more than one passport

Greece does not prohibit having multiple citizenship - by naturalizing in the Republic, you are not obliged to give up your status in your country of origin. However, it should be taken into account that some states do not allow you to have a second passport - before you start the immigration process, study the legislation of your home country and make sure that it allows you to be a holder of two national documents.

It is also important to understand the difference between dual and second citizenship. The former refers to an agreement in which the holder of two passports has rights and obligations to both countries. Bipatrides can receive additional benefits, such as access to social benefits of each country, the ability to choose tax residency. A second passport means only having two documents, but each state recognizes you as only its own citizen. To date, Greece has not signed any treaties on dual citizenship.

Where to get a second passport faster and easier: an overview of alternatives

Acquiring a second citizenship is a strategic decision for foreigners from outside the European Union who want to expand their opportunities and improve their quality of life. Reviews of immigrants who obtained a Greek passport indicate the main disadvantage of naturalization - its duration, as the procedure takes from 7 years. At the same time, Romania, Slovenia and Bulgaria offer more affordable and faster ways to obtain European citizenship, which gives the right to live and work in any EU state.

Becoming a participant of the simplified immigration program, you can get an EU passport in 4-14 months, if you approach the organization of the process correctly. To successfully complete the repatriation procedure, it is important to seek the assistance of lawyers with the necessary knowledge of international law. With their support and guidance at every stage of immigration, you will be able to obtain European citizenship without a long wait and unnecessary worries. Find out all the details of simplified programs for moving to the EU at a free consultation.